Side door for railway cars



Dec. 18, 1956 K. F. NYSTROM 2,774,118

SIDE DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed Aug. 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 75 IN VEN TOR. 47 [Z 7 50 50 MZI/YySZ/OW,

Dec, 18, 1956 K. F. NYSTROM SIDE DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 4, 1950 l I l l I INVENTOR.

United States Patent SIDE noon FOR RAILWAY CARS Karl F. Nystrom,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Standard Railway Equipment ManufacturingCompany, (Zhicago, ill., a corporation of Delaware Application August 4,1950, Serial No. 177,671

Claims. (Cl. 2022) This invention relates to side doors for railway boxcars which ordinarily roll upon rollers fixed to opposite lower outermargins of the door, which rollers roll upon a horizontally disposedtrack fixed to the car below the door opening. The travel of such doorsis approximately equal to the width of the door opening so that the doormay be moved to a position opposite the door opening for closing thesame, or from such position to a position to one side of said opening sothat the opening is entirely clear.

The invention more specifically relates to the bottom door railsupporting the rollers, and to the arrangement of the track, secured tothe side sill and side sill reinforcement, whereby the track alsofunctions as a reinforcement for the side sill. The .invention alsorelates to details of construction which will hereinafter more fullyappear.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing forming part of thisapplication, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts: 7

Fig. l is a side elevation of a car door and portion of a car trackembodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the car door.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the door.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the door and doorway ofthe car.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the door frame and track arrangement.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7, Fig. 5, slightly enlarged.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the door track, slightly enlarged.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9, Fig. 5, slightly enlarged.

Fig. 10 is a section on line 1il10, Fig. 5, slightly enlarged.

In the drawings a portion of a railway car is shown having a side plate2, side sill 3, each of which extends from corner post to corner post,and vertical door posts, 4 front and 5 rear, extending between andsecured to plate 2 and sill 3. Side sill 3 is a part of the underframeof the car and in this instance comprises an angle iron having arelatively long leg disposed horizontally and a relatively short legdisposed vertically. Under the doorway 6 of the car there is areinforcing bulb angle 7 with the web thereof disposed vertically and inplane with the vertical leg of sill 3, with a leg disposed horizontallyand abutting the longer leg of sill 3, and secured thereto by a row ofrivets, one of which is indicated at 8. This bulb angle extends underthe doorway and to one side thereof a distance approximating the widthof the doorway.

The door track comprises a channel member, the web of which is indicatedat 9, which web is provided with a row of holes 18 for application ofplug welds in securing said track to bulb angle 7. Along the top innercorner of the track there is a weld 11 securing the track also to sill3. Bottom flange 12 of the track is provided with three spaced slots 13,two of which occur approximately under the door posts and the other atthe end of the track remote from the doorway, all being spaced apartapproximately the width of the door. Slots 13 have tapering ends, asshown, the purpose of which will appear later. Upper flange 14 extendsoutwardly from web 9 and terminates in a downturned reflange 15.

An alternate means of attaching the web 9 to the side sill 3 and bulbangle 7 is indicated, in dotted lines, as comprising rivets 16 and 17.

The wood floor of the car is indicated at 18 as resting upon andsupported by side sill 3. The car threshold. plate is shown at 19, beingwelded along its outer edge, as at 20, to flange 14 and extendinginwardly'over vertical flange of sill 3 and floor 18. The flange 14 isthe top of an outwardly facing channel attached at its web 9 to the sidesill 3, the channel terminating'in the bottom flange 12. The top flange14 terminates in the downturned reflange 15.

The door track being secured to the sill 3 and reinforcing member 7, asdescribed, forms, in addition to its function as a track, additionalreinforcement for the side sill 3 and support for said bulb angle.

Across the top of the door opening is secured thereto a guide or sealingstrip comprising a vertical portion 25 abutting side plate 2 and havinga horizontal outturned portion 26 and a downturned portion 27 whichterminates in an upwardly facing U-shaped portion 28 having a reflange28' which is substantially coplanar with the inner surface of thevertical sheets forming the inner wall of the door at 69, 61 and 62. Thelower margin of portion 25 is outwardly and downwardly inclined, as at29, and then turned inwardly horizontally, as at 30, the edge of whichis welded to the side plate 2, as at 31. Also, portion 25 is welded toside plate 2, as at 32. The parts 25 to 39 coact to form a hood. The toprail of the door comprises a vertical portion secured along its lowermargin to top margin of door sheet 62, which portion 35 is inwardlyinclined, along a substantially central portion thereof as at 37,parallel with portion 29 and then extends upwardly in a verticalwall 37'and terminates in a downwardly facing U-shaped portion 38 constituting areflange 38 which interlocks loosely with the reflange 28' of theU-portion 28, so as to permit limited vertical and lateral movement ofthe door, as well as horizontal sliding movement thereof. Vertical' wal37 is displaced inwardly from the plane of the inner surface of thevertical sheets forming the inner wall of the door at 60, 61 and 62, ina position which extends in spaced parallel relation to the downwardlydi-' rected reflange 38. The reflange 28' that is directed upwardly isdisposed in a plane that is spaced parallel to the plane of thedownturned portion 27. The re-. flanges 38 and 28 interengage so that asthe door moves longitudinally the door is also free to move laterally-asinclined surface 37 slides on inclined surface 29; The inclined surface37 is supported in spaced relation to'side' plate 2 by the inwardlyhorizontally extending portion 39 of the guide or sealing strip. Thuswhen the door is lowered until portion 37 contacts portion 29, a furtherlowering of the door will cause portion 37 to slide outwardly on portion29, until the sealing members (herein after described) at the verticalside margins of the'door come into engagement.

The bottom door rail comprises a vertically disposed portion 40 securedto the lower margin of lower door sheet and is outwardly and downwardlyinclined, as at 41, to the outer plane of the door, thence turneddownwardly, as at 42, parallel with reflange 15, thence whenthe doorisclosed.

inwardly, as at 43, parallel with flange 14 and thence downwardly, as at44, parallel with portion 42, the lower edge of portion 44 being spacedfrom flange 12; At the ing 4,5 is provided with roller 47 journaledonpin 48Qso that roller- 47 may rolllupon track flange 12 at all timesexcept when, rollers 47 drop into depressions or slots 13,

at'which time the .rollers are relieved of the weight of the door andthe bottom-of the door rests upon flange 12 when the dooristhus lowered,inclined portion 41 rides on arcuate corner between flange 14 andreflange f causing lower margin of door to be moved outwardly,

; coincident with the outward movement of the upper margin of the door,above described ff spacing of the slots 13 is such that 'when the dooris .in closed: position the rollers are'in the slots under the vjerftical margins of the-door opening, and when the door a is in fully openedposition, said rollers are in the slot under the rear vertical marginofthe door opening and the "slot remote from the door opening; .At' therear end a of the door track and at the rear end of the top guide I orsealing strip are closing strips which are welded to the ends of thedoor track'and top guide, respectively,

after the dooris installed, so that the door cannot run off the rear endof the track accidentally.

Upon'the track 12, approximately under the vertical center'of the dooropening, there is-installed a door sup portcomprisihg an angular shapedplate member 50 hav ing a horizontal surface underlapping track flange'12 and a vertical surface extending substantially in plane with outeredge of flange 12. Plate member 59 has its upper inner corner cutaway'providing an inclined surface 51 which assists in guiding the doorduring vertical,

movements thereof. Plate member is provided with a, pair of laterallyprojecting wings 5252 which are 7 welded -tojplate 50 and to edge offlange 12 to reinforce plate-member50 against distortion due to bumps orthe like. This door :support provides a guide forthe lower edge'of thedoor during horizontal sliding thereof on track;12 and'acts -as areinforcement for the bottom door rail when-said rail is subject tobulging under bulk comguide .and sealing strip'for a like purpose.

' ing through said elongated slot so that said lever may "pivot onsaidrivet and reciprocate thereon within the t limits of the length ofsaid'slot. V

t bracket in relation to said slotbar 75, when the door is:

The location of said closed as shown in Fig. 1, is such that when thelever is swung clockwise on rivet 81, tongue,79 will engage in one ofsaid holes 76 and by engaging said holes successively said door may beforced open. When'the'door is to be forced to fully closed position thesame procedure is followed exceptthat the handle'is-moved in ananticlockwise direction in engaging said holes 76.

said handle, which. guide and handle may be used tomove the doormanually after being startedin-either directionbysaid lever. t s

A smaller slot bar 86 with one opening-87thereinis similarly secured tothe track flange 12 and this bar is' placedso that it may be engaged bythe'lever to start the door moving from fully position. V a 7 Attherearzend of the track 12 is a bumper plate'90 open position towardclosed which extends between and is welded to flanges 14 and 12 of thetrack. 'This plate is welded in place after the door is on the car andprevents the doorfrom running endwiseofl the track.

A similar plate 91 is welded to the rear 1 claim: '1. In a hoodstructure for a vertically shiftable-and laterally movable door foratrailway car wall having a door frame therein wherein the doorterminates in a door frame member including a substantially centrallydisposed downwardly and inwardly inclined portion, the top marginalperiphery of said door frame member-terminating: in an outwardly anddownwardly extending U-shaped portion having a reflange disposed insubstantially'parallel spaced relation to the plane of said door 7 framemember, a side plate, a hood having aivertically disposed centralportion supported on said side plate,

'said vertically disposed portion of said hood-having-a bottomperipheral portion that is inclined outwardly and downwardly for forminga surface for slidably supportwith a hook portion-57; Rear strip ,56 islikewise secured to rear door post Sand has an outwardly and rearwardlyturned portion 58. The door itself is made up ofapluralityof-sheetsfit), 61 and 62 extending cross- 7 wise of the door,the meeting sidemargins of which overlap and are secured togethenbywelding. 'The door sheets are'treinforced by vertically spaced,horizontal channel;

members63 Which-extend between the front 64 and rear 65 door stiles,each of which comprises a Z,-shaped mem= ber, the' webs 66 and 67,respectively, of which are welded ,to the respectiveends of saidmemberp63 and the Zouter 1 legs -of'which members 64 and 65 overlap theends :of

said members 63 and are secured thereto, The door 7 sheets-6t), 61 and62lie'flat1y against and are securedito the:inner legs 68;and 69 of saidstiles. The front stile t le'g j68 has an:outwardly turned arcuateportion 70 for engagement within similarly shaped. portion 67 when thedoonis closed. The rearstile leg 69 has an inwardly turned arcuateportion 71 for engagement with flange 58 :long starting leverIslot bar75 is secured to bottom I 75 is located onlthe track so. as to occurdirectly under I V the doors'tarting lever777. 'Door starting lever 77is tapered aridthe enlarged end is provided with an enlon-' ing-said'aforementioned substantially centrally disposed downwardly and inwardly'inclined portion' ofsaid door 7 frame member, an'int urnedsubstantially horizontally, extending marginal portion connected withthe bottompe ripheral portion of said hood and secured to said sideplate ,for supporting the bottom peripheral portion-10f said hood insaid outwardly'and downwardly inclined position, the upper portion ofsaid hood extending: above said 7 U-shaped portion of said door framemember and over and beyond the reflange thereon and projectingdownwardly beyond the terminating edge of said reflange I on said'doorJframe -;memberl in substantially parallel i spaced vertical relationthereto, the said downwa'rdlyextending-portion of said head beingreversed upon itself 7 and'extendingupwardly in spaced parallelrelationtto said doorifra'me 'member in a reflange engaging the reflangeof said doorframe member and supporting said door frame member in aposition free to shift vertically while" moving laterally as the,inclined'surface on said door frame member slides outwardly or inwardlyon the supporting inclined, surface on said hood'in relation to the t Idoor frame in the car wall' 7 a p 2. A hood structure for a verticallyshiftable andlatterally movable door fora railway car wall having adoor' frame'therein as set forth in claim 1 in which the down: wardlyextending portionso'f Jthe hood projects across the front'ofthevertically disposed central portion of said end of the top t hoodapproximately one half the vertical depth of said hood.

3. A hood structure for a vertically shiftable and latterally movabledoor for a railway car wall having a door frame therein as set forth inclaim 1 in which the outwardly and downwardly extending portion of thehood terminates at the front of the hood in a position above thecoacting inclined surfaces of said door frame member and said hood.

4. A hood structure for a vertically shiftable and latterally movabledoor for a railway car wall having a door frame therein as set forth inclaim 1 in which the inturned substantially horizontally extendingmarginal portion of said hood is integrally connected with thesubstantially centrally vertically disposed portion of said hood alongone edge and abuts in a welded connection with said side plate along theother edge thereof.

5. A hood structure for a vertically shiftable and latterally movabledoor for a railway car wall having a door frame therein as set forth inclaim 1 in which the reflange on the inwardly and downwardly extendingU-shaped portion of said door frame member extends in a plane that issubstantially coplanar with the plane of the inner wall of the laterallymovable door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,697,108 Conrad et a1 Ian. 1, 1929 1,893,105 Raaen Ian. 3, 19332,023,873 De Haven Dec. 10, 1935 2,079,160 Eklind May 4, 1937 2,097,424Tobin Oct. 26, 1937 2,245,812 Osner et a1 June 17, 1941 2,305,131Bonsall Dec. 15, 1942 2,340,014 Nystrom Jan. 25, 1944 2,344,506 GilpinMar. 21, 1944 2,447,846 Ditchfield Aug. 24, 1948 2,477,119 DitchfieldJuly 26, 1949 2,488,634 Madland Nov. 22, 1949 2,494,467 Beauchamp Ian.10, 1950 2,540,281 Nystrom Feb. 6, 1951 2,596,913 Nystrom May 13, 1952

